San Gabriel Valley Digest

South Pasadena : Change in Metro Station

The Los Angles Metro Transportation Authority will alter the design of a station on the planned light-rail route between Los Angeles and Pasadena to avoid the closure of a main east-west road.

Public Works Director Jim Van Winkle said the transportation agency has asked the city to put on hold plans to close El Centro Street.

The length of the Mission Street station platform plus distances required by the Public Utility Commission on both sides would have meant closing the street.

Van Winkle said the transportation agency has asked the commission for permission to use new technology to reduce the distances on the sides of the platform, canceling the need to close the street.

The modification would allow the gates across El Centro Street to the south of the station and Mission Street to the north to be up when a train is at the platform. The commission allowed a similar modification on the San Diego light-rail system, he said.